Upper Nile Governor reiterates support to developmental projects

By Ngor Arol Garang

November 10, 2009 (MALAKAL) – The Upper Nile State governor, General Gatluak Deng Garang, has assured citizens of his government support to developmental projects in the area.

“The government will continue allocating resources towards public projects particularly in agriculture sector, health, education and more importantly on roads linking rural villages to towns,” he said.

“My cabinet members and I wish people of Greater Upper State more and more development to reduce poverty,” he adds saying his government intends to distribute power and resources fairly across the area so that development spreads equally.

Gatluak said his government plans to ensure equal development in all the Upper Nile counties in order to promote unity and fight tribal divisions.

“We want to ensure that all the counties under Upper Nile state are developed and not divided on tribal issues because we are same people with the same identity and interest for equal development,”he said.

The governor also welcomee criticism against his government and pledged not to arrest anyone so long as critics of his government do not attack personalities saying this helps him to focus on areas where attention is required to develop.

He also said if Upper Nile people have chosen democracy as its guiding principles he will not discriminate against anyone regardless of their political affiliation.

The governor who was talking to number of officials during a lunch at his residence said he supports education because it is the key to wealth creation and economic development.

He therefore implored students to take their studies seriously for them to reach greater heights in future.

“I was impressed over last weekend I when passed by Upper Nile University campus where I saw most students engaged in group studies by allowing one to lecture the sitting group,” he said.

“For these reason, I encouraged them study hard to perform well and make a meaningful contribution to making Sudan a productive and wealthy nation,” he adds.

However, he said he was saddened by the deterioration of university infrastructure following last year incident in which armed groups entered the university to loot and burned part of it down.

But he assured efforts of the state government to address the situation reiterating his administration interest and commitment to support education regarding it as the driving force in the economic development of the nation.

He also encouraged female students not to rush into early marriages, but to study hard, for them to contribute to the nation’s economic growth in future.

(ST)